Lando Norris tops timesheets on opening day of testing

Lando Norris (McLaren) topped the timesheets on the first day of testing in Sakhir. Today marked the first of six pre-season testing days that teams will complete in Bahrain ahead of the season-opening race in Melbourne on March 8.

Eighteen drivers took to the track, with temperatures ranging between 25 and 32°C, significantly higher than last year in Manama, when the mercury did not exceed 15°C. Track temperatures ranged from a low of 25°C to a high of 43°C.

Over the course of the eight hours of track activity, a total of 6,183 kilometres were completed. In this first round of testing (the second is scheduled for next week), teams are allowed to use only the three hardest slick compounds in the Pirelli range (C1, C2 and C3), which are best suited to the characteristics of the circuit, along with one set of Intermediates in case of wet conditions.

The C3 compound accounted for 53% of the laps, with 603 laps completed for a total of 3,262 km. The C2 was used for 382 laps (2,067 km), representing 33%, while the C1 covered 156 laps (844 km), equal to 14%. The set of Intermediates was fitted only by Esteban Ocon (Haas) for two installation laps at the start of the sessions.

In total, 11 sets of C1, 29 sets of C2 and 40 sets of C3 were used. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) completed the highest number of laps in a single run on the hardest compound (30 in total). The longest stints on C2 and C3 were completed by Max Verstappen (31 laps) and Esteban Ocon (25 laps), respectively.

Eight teams featured in the top ten of the timesheets. Norris set a 1:34.669, the fastest time of the day, achieved on the C2 compound. Behind him, on the softer C3 compound, were Max Verstappen (Red Bull) at +0.129s and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at +0.521s. The fastest lap on C1 was also set by the Dutchman, with a 1:35.631.

Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Ollie Bearman (Haas) did not take to the track. Testing continues tomorrow and Friday, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00 local time.